August 13, 2016

500 years ago
1516

Diplomacy
The Treaty of Noyon between France and Spain was signed. King Francis I of France recognized Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's claim to Naples, and Charles recognized Francis's claim to Milan.

190 years ago
1826

Died on this date
René Laennec, 45. French physician. Dr. Laennec was a flautist in addition to being a physician, and he used his skill at carving flutes to aid in his invention of the stethoscope in 1816. He also contributed to the understanding of peritonitis, cirrhosis, and tuberculosis, the latter of which caused his death.

150 years ago
1866

Born on this date
Hugh Guthrie. Canadian politician. Mr. Guthrie represented Wellington South in the Canadian House of Commons from 1900-1935. He was a Liberal from 1900-1917 and then crossed the floor and joined Prime Minister Robert Borden's Unionist government, serving as Minister of Defence from 1917-1921. Mr. Guthrie remained with the Conservative Party from 1921 until his retirement in 1935, serving as interim party leader from 1926-1927 after the resignation of former Prime Minister Arthur Meighen. Mr. Guthrie died on November 3, 1939 at the age of 73.

Giovanni Agnelli. Italian automobile executive. Mr. Agnelli founded Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino, eventually shortened to Fiat. He died on December 16, 1945 at the age of 79.

140 years ago
1876

Opera
Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold), the first part of Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) by Richard Wagner, received its premiere performance in Bayreuth, Germany at the recently completed Bayreuth Festspielhaus. The remaining three parts received their premiere performances over the next several days.

130 years ago
1886

Transportation
Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, on his only visit to British Columbia, drove the last spike of Robert Dunsmuir's Esquimault and Naniamo Railway at mile 25 near Shawnigan Lake; built by Mr. Dunsmuir in return for cash and a land grant that amounted to 20% of the land on Vancouver Island, the 72 miles of track took 3½ years to build. At Cliffside, Sir John A. ceremoniously placed the last spike--a gold one--and drove it home with a silver hammer.

110 years ago
1906

Exploration
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen reached Nome, Alaska in his ship Gjoa after the first east to west navigation of the Northwest Passage.

Crime
The all-Negro infantrymen of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Regiment were accused of killing a white bartender and wounding a white police officer in Brownsville, Texas, despite exculpatory evidence; all were later dishonorably discharged, but were officially pardoned in 1972.

Baseball
Jack Taylor of the Chicago Cubs lasted three innings against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Washington Park in Brooklyn, ending his consecutive complete games streak, which had begun in 1901, at 187. The Cubs won 11-3.

The New York Giants swept a doubleheader from the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-1 and 2-1 at the Polo Grounds in New York.

75 years ago
1941

War
The Canadian Department of National Defence established the Canadian Women's Army Corps, for women who wished to volunteer for official uniformed service; positions were noncombatant and clerical. The U.S.S.R. government decreed a general amnesty for all Polish prisoners of war, who were expected to fight the Germans. The Soviet command reported fighting 140 miles south of Leningrad, indicating a German advance.

The Peruvian government reported that 3 Peruvians and 11 Ecuadorians had been killed on August 11 in renewed border warfare at Zapotillo and Roca Fuerte.

Defense
U.S. National Association of Science Writers President John J. O'Neill claimed that the U.S. government had "clapped a censorship" on scientists who had discovered the method of releasing the energy of uranium 235, and was "driving them to develop it for war uses." He said that the element converted into a bomb "would wreck every structure within 100 miles."

Protest
Six people were reported killed when police in Paris broke up a food riot, which was blamed on Communists.

Economics and finance
The Canadian Wartime Prices and Trade Board moved from the Department of Labour to the Department of Finance--according to Finance Minister J.L. Ilsley, so that "Finance would be held responsible for inflation."

Labour
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt suspended the eight-hour day for nearly 100,000 workers employed directly by the War Department on defense projects.

Disasters
The Chilean government reported that at least 60 people had been killed in storms in central Chile during the past eight days.

70 years ago
1946

Died on this date
H. G. Wells, 79. U.K. author. Herbert George Wells was best known for science fiction novels such as The Time Machine (1895); The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896); The Invisible Man (1897); and The War of the Worlds (1898). He was a socialist and a believer in Darwinian evolution who expressed his views not only in his fiction but in such non-fiction works as The Outline of History (1920).

Diplomacy
Speaking at the Paris Peace Conference, U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov criticized an Italian plea for a more lenient peace treaty, and asserted that Italy must introduce redical reforms to eliminate the remnants of fascism. Romanian Foreign Minister George Tatarescu asked that his nation be granted the status of a co-belligerent at the conference and attacked the military, economic, and political provisions of the Romanian treaty.

Seven Arab League states and the Arab Higher Commission announced their acceptance of a British invitation to a conference on Palestine.

World events
Two British transports left Haifa with 1,300 illegal Jewish immigrants, while a ship carrying 600 more immigrants was captured and detained in Haifa. British troops killed three Jews and wounded seven when they fired on a crowd of 1,000 trying to break into the city's harbour area.

Transportation
The new maritime service from Quebec City to Baie Comeau, Québec opened.

Labour
A confrontation between striking Dominion Textile workers and police at the company's plant in Valleyfield, Quebec turned into a riot.

60 years ago
1956

Diplomacy
The Arab League Council, meeting in Cairo, declared "solidarity with Egypt in its determination to preserve its sovereignty," and said that the League would regard "aggression against any Arab state to be an act of hostility directed against all Arab states."

Defense
The British Labour Party demanded assurance that British military moves in the Suez crisis were "solely intended for defense against possible aggression and not preparations for armed intervention."

Politics and government
Tennessee Governor Frank Clement delivered the keynote address on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago.

Abominations
The U.S. Justice Department approved restoration of U.S. citizenship for 157 Japanese-Americans who had renounced it in 1942 due to wartime sympathy for Japan.

Economics and finance
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that the gross national product had reached a record annual rate of $408 billion in the previous quarter.

Disasters
15 people were killed and 9 others seriously injured in a gas explosion in Monticello, Utah.

Golf
In the Tam O'Shanter world championship tournament in Chicago, Ted Kroll won the men's championship and the $50,000 first prize money, while Marlene Bauer Hagge won the women's title and $3,000.

50 years ago
1966

Hit parade
#1 single in Australia (Kent Music Report): Mama--B.J. Thomas

#1 single in France: Ton Nom--Salvatore Adamo (8th week at #1)

#1 single in Italy (FIMI): Tema--I Giganti (7th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Strangers in the Night--Frank Sinatra (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the Netherlands (De Nederlandse Top 40): Dans je de hele nacht met mij?--Karin Kent

#1 single in the U.K. (New Musical Express): With a Girl Like You--The Troggs (2nd week at #1)

#1 single in the U.S.A. (Billboard): Summer in the City--The Lovin' Spoonful

U.S.A. Top 10 (Cash Box)
1 Summer in the City--The Lovin' Spoonful
2 They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!--Napoleon XIV
3 Lil' Red Riding Hood--Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
4 Mother's Little Helper--The Rolling Stones
5 Wild Thing--The Troggs
6 The Pied Piper--Crispian St. Peters
7 Sunny--Bobby Hebb
8 Sweet Pea--Tommy Roe
9 See You in September--The Happenings
10 This Door Swings Both Ways--Herman's Hermits

Singles entering the chart were You Can't Hurry Love by the Supremes (#55); Turn-Down Day by the Cyrkle (#66); Sunny Afternoon by the Kinks (#79); 7 and 7 Is by Love (#81); Satisfied with You by the Dave Clark Five (#83); There Will Never Be Another You by Chris Montez (#86); Out of This World by the Chiffons (#88); The Kids are Alright by the Who (#92); Cast Your Fate to the Wind by Shelby Flint (#94); Come Share the Good Times with Me by Julie Monday (#99); Black is Black by Los Bravos (#100); and Ashes to Ashes by the Mindbenders (also #100).

Music
The Beatles continued their final concert tour with two shows at Olympia Stadium in Detroit.

World events
China announced plans for a "new leap forward" after the first meeting in four years of the Communist Party's Central Committee.

Sport
The Commonwealth Games closed in Kingston, Jamaica. Canadians took home 14 gold medals, 20 silver, and 23 bronze; Canada's Elaine Tanner won an unprecedented four gold and three silver medals in swimming, and was voted the Athlete of the Games.

Football
CFL
Calgary (0-3) 3 @ Hamilton (2-0) 21

Frank Cosentino threw 2 touchdown passes to Tommy Grant and another to Hal Patterson as the Tiger-Cats defeated the Stampeders before 24,765 fans at Civic Stadium. It was the third straight game for the Stampeders in which they had failed to score a touchdown, and marked the final game in a Calgary uniform for Eagle Day, who had been the Stampeders' starting quarterback since September 1961. After losing halfback Ted Woods to a season-ending torn achilles tendon in the previous game, the Stampeders lost fullback Lovell Coleman for the rest of the season with the same injury. It was the only CFL game for Calgary defensive end Mel Boehland.

40 years ago
1976

Hit parade
#1 single in New Zealand: Fernando--ABBA (9th week at #1)

#1 single in West Germany (Media Control): Ein Bett im Kornfeld--Jürgen Drews (3rd week at #1)

#1 single in Switzerland: Die kleine Kneipe--Peter Alexander (3rd week at #1)

Baseball
Juan Beniquez singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Toby Harrah in the top of the 9th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians before a Cleveland Stadium crowd of 11,954, which included this blogger and his parents. Jim Umbarger pitched an 8-hit complete game to win the pitchers' duel over Dennis Eckersley, who also went the distance.

Graig Nettles drove in 5 runs with a pair of home runs and Lou Piniella added 4 singles and 4 RBIs as the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 9-3 before 20,746 fans at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington. The Yankees scored 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning off losing pitcher Eddie Bane.

Jerry Augustine pitched a 5-hitter to win the pitchers' duel over Paul Hartzell as the Milwaukee Brewers shut out the California Angels 2-0 before 8,244 fans at Anaheim Stadium in a game that was played in 1 hour 47 minutes. Mr. Hartzell allowed just 6 hits in pitching a complete game.

Mike Norris and Rollie Fingers combined on a 4-hitter and the Oakland Athletics scored 2 unearned runs in the 4th inning as a result of 2 Boston errors as they blanked the Red Sox 2-0 before 6,156 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Losing pitcher Reggie Cleveland pitched a 5-hit complete game.

Rick Monday singled with 2 out in the bottom of the 15th inning, advanced to third base on a single by Jose Cardenal, and scored on a wild pitch by Charlie Hough to give the Chicago Cubs a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of a doubleheader before 20,004 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Dodgers came back from a 7-1 deficit to score 3 runs in the top of the 7th inning and 3 in the 9th to win the second game 8-7. Al Downing pitched 2 innings of scoreless relief for Los Angeles in the second game to earn his only win of the season and the 123rd and last of his 14-year major league career.

Steve Rogers pitched a 6-hitter and singled in the game's final run as the Montreal Expos blanked the San Diego Padres 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader before 11,069 fans at Jarry Park in Montreal. Alan Foster, the fourth of five San Diego pitchers, allowed a hit and a base on balls in 1/3 inning in the 225th and last game of his 10-year major league career. The Padres scored 2 runs in each of the 1st and 3rd innings and withstood a 3-run 7th-inning rally to win the second game 4-3.

Dave Concepcion hit 2 home runs and George Foster added another as the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets 7-3 before 32,970 fans at Shea Stadium in New York.

The St. Louis Cardinals scored 6 runs in the 5th inning as they shut out the Atlanta Braves 8-0 before 12,953 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Jose Cruz drove in 4 runs, 3 with a bases-loaded double in the 5th. Pete Falcone pitched an 8-hit shutout.

John Montefusco pitched a 6-hit shutout and struck out 9 batters to improve his 1976 record to 13-9 as the San Francisco Giants blanked the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 before 32,642 fans at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The game was played in 1 hour 58 minutes.

30 years ago
1986

Hit parade
#1 single in Sweden (Topplistan): Touch Me (I Want Your Body)--Samantha Fox (6th week at #1)

Died on this date
Helen Mack, 72. U.S. actress. Miss Mack, born Helen McDougall, had supporting roles in movies such as She (1935), The Milky Way (1936), and His Girl Friday (1940), but had greater success in writing and directing numerous radio programs. She died of cancer.

25 years ago
1991

Died on this date
James Roosevelt, 83. U.S. politician. Mr. Roosevelt was the oldest son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and served as his secretary from 1937-1938. James was chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1946-1948 and represented California's 26th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1955-1965.

20 years ago
1996

Died on this date
António de Spínola, 86. 14th President of Portugal, 1974. General Spínola was Governor of Portuguese Guinea from 1968-1973, and served as President of Portugal from May 15-September 30, 1974. Although he was President for just four months, General Spínola played an important role in Portugal's transition to democracy following the "Carnation Revolution" of 1974.

10 years ago
2006

Died on this date
Tony Jay, 73. U.K.-born actor. Mr. Jay was best known as a voice actor in animation, film and video games. He moved to South Africa, appearing in numerous programs on Springbok Radio, and eventually settled in the United States.